Team size: 13

How has the increasing consciousness of climate change and sustainability affected your company and the team’s priorities?   

Whilst we are an internet and business focused company, as gatekeepers of voice and reason, we are conscious of our role towards the environment, as well as of doing what is good, in general, for the populace at large. Consciousness of climate change has brought about tangible positives, such as fighting for a cause beyond one’s own need. Our focus as a team has been strengthened.

Rational use of any resource is a key aspect in the work we do. Steps being taken by companies to give importance to what was once referred to as a go to word, governance is seen and felt in ESG matters, being taken up by the regulatory bodies, as well as law makers. Advisory bodies, think-tanks and everyone with a voice, are focusing to ensure every company contributes. Therefore, we have not taken a backseat in telling ourselves that we are not a manufacturing company, and hence this does not apply. Be in electronic waste, power consumption or merely wanting to invest in new companies and technologies, the underlying value proposition, as well as damage it would cause, is very well balanced and only then decisions are taken. We are no longer just chasing bottom line numbers in a profit and loss part of the financial statements.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this? 

As an in-house lawyer, there are various aspects that we work on and, as such, knowledge is well-rounded and broad-based, as we strive hard to understand our business well and in depth. But the profession of law, has changed over the years and with specialisation becoming the need of the hour, there are aspects where we would need external lawyers to come in and guide on the trends and possible future trajectory of a specific area of law.

It makes us more commercial and at the same time, enables us to be logical in facilitating business calls and balancing legal risks. Therefore, I firmly believe there is no place for egos in realising aspects which need a second opinion and thorough analysis. Law firms also benefit from these discussions and understand businesses better.

We would not single out a law firm for not actively having worked on climate and related work, as perhaps that’s not come about as part of their work yet. However, what we give importance to is the extra effort that the firm takes to bring about a change. This is where we are guided by those ones who go the extra mile for the right causes.